Call of duty:

When there's no one-stop shop for all your needs, dial 2-1-1

A woman and her daughter receive a meal at the Marian House soup kitchen,
and now they need a place to spend the night.

After another fight, a
couple decides they need counseling.

A man upgrades to a Mac computer and wants to donate his old PC.

While these situations seems like they have nothing to do with one another,
all people involved can find help in the same place.

In 2004, Pikes Peak United Way launched 2-1-1, an easy-to-remember phone
number that connects callers to various non-emergency health and human
services available in their area.

"We were the largest community in the nation that didn't have comprehensive
community information," says Howard Brooks, Pikes Peak United Way vice
president of community impact. "People have needs, and we have the
services. When the two don't connect, that's a sad thing for the
community."

Originally founded in 1997 by United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, 2-1-1 is
now active in 40-plus states. The program links 198 million people
nationwide to a multitude of services, including food banks, shelters,
medical information, counseling, employment services, child and senior
health care, and mentoring programs.

In 2006, the 2-1-1 program assisted more than 20,000 people in Colorado
Springs. Currently, about 90 percent of Colorado has access to 2-1-1, and
individual counties are working to reach areas without coverage.

While focusing on the broader needs of the community, 2-1-1 also provides
information to those willing to help.

"If people want to donate their items, their money, or their time, we can
direct them," says Brooks.

The program has steadily gained recognition. In 2000, at the request of the
national 2-1-1 Collaborative, the Federal Communications Commission
reserved the 2-1-1 dialing code for community information and referral
services. In 2005, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Elizabeth
Dole, R-N.C., joined forces by writing the "Calling for 2-1-1 Act,"
legislation that would provide federal funding for nationwide access to
2-1-1. The act, which was reintroduced to Congress in January, would
establish at least one call center in every state.

Even with government attention, Brooks says a constant challenge for 2-1-1
is still informing the public about its services. Pikes Peak United Way has
raised awareness through fundraising activities and TV ads, but according
to Brooks, nothing beats word of mouth.

"Everyone who hears about 2-1-1 should tell two other people," he says.
"That's how we'll get the word out."